Things Transformed: Inalienability, Indigenous Storytelling and the Quest to Recover from Addiction

ABSTRACT

The impact that the systemic invisibility of indigenous people in the national narrative has on addiction and the recovery process cannot be overstated. An exploration of the nature of how this invisibility has evolved and is currently maintained may facilitate a deeper understanding of the issues. Understanding the importance of indigenous storytelling and identity can help us more effectively meet those working toward recovery. Anchoring such work, inalienability of indigenous identity and the wisdom of indigenous storytelling will be examined as it relates to a recovery process.

KEYWORDS:

• Colonialism
• multigenerational trauma
• indigenous people
• addiction
• invisibility
• inalienability
• storytelling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.